Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

A Ndhiwa politician Hilary Ochieng’ Alila stunned a huge crowd of mourners in Ndhiwa when he defiantly announced that he would contest the Homa-Bay Senate seat in the forthcoming general election.

Alila, 37, who is the youth coordinator in Nyanza, dispelled the rumor making the round that he was not a serious aspirant, but only fronting for the Immigration Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang.

He reiterated his intention to turn the region around if elected as its representative to the covenanted ’tri-cameral parliament in the next general election.

When the Prime Minister Raila Odinga took to the podium he endorsed Alila sentiments saying if the aspirant has gauged his manhood and found that he was mature enough and strong to sustain the hit of the contest then he was free to do so like anyone else

Hundreds of mourners who had attended the burial of George Okeyo Orata, a former senior Co-operative Development Officer left the funeral home and went home saying that Alila had been given the nod by “Agwambo” to be party favored candidate for the Homa-Bay Senate seat.

The Prime Minister Raila Odinga was accompanied by his wife Ida Raila Odinga and other leader who included former Ndhiwa MP Matthews Otieno Ogingo, the Regional Commissioner for Southern Nyanza Erustus Ekidor, ODM regional coordinator Monica Amolo, civic leaders and community elders. The funeral took place in Kanyikela Location, Ndhiwa district within Homa-Bay County. It was held only one kilometer from Alila’s Ndhiwa rural home.

Raila told member’s of the Luo community to be accommodating and to discard arrogance and exercise respect to other communities. He urged to reach out to members of the neighboring communities to support his presidential bid. They should guard against prejudices and arrogance towards other communities.

Raila assured his audience that he will emerge the winner in the next presidential race and need the support of every Kenyan. When become the President he will not be the President of the Luo community alone but will serve all Kenyans equally. “Whenever I go out for votes hunting, other Kenyans have expressed their willingness to vote for me, but at the same time they claim Luos will not exercise respect to other communities.”

He urged the Luos to re-package themselves and discount the fears that persist that Luos will not even pay for their house rents when I become the president.”.

He assured the cheering mourners that he will put up a formidable fight in the next year presidential race

He told the youth who have attained the voting ages to register in large number when the government starts issuing identity cards this month.” I want those who do not national identity cards to get them so that we can go to polls prepared. I am prepared for this battle and I want you to be ready to support me,” he said.

He told the mourners that when elected as the President of this country he would serve all the communities uniformly and he will uphold the constitution.

Raila challenged his political competitors to address issues facing the country instead of incessantly attacking him. He urged the politician to unite Kenyan at the same time discarding tribalism. All the Kenyan tribes should be treated as equal for the country to realize meaningful progress and development.

In his earlier address Alila also appealed to other Luo leaders to visit other regions and campaigned for Raila. They should not only just make cosmetic appearances whenever the Prime Minister is visiting those areas. Such visits should b translated into well cemented down inter-tribal relationship and fruitful friendship.

The leaders from Nyanza should support Raila to the ht by frequenting other regions on their on nd working with local leader in those places to popularize ODM while promoting Raila’s presidential ambition at the same time.

Alila blamed some MPS from the Luo region of laxity and complacency and for doing very little in promoting Raila’s presidential bid among the diverse Kenyan communities. They should spread their wing and cover every part of the Republic while working with leaders from other communities, and make good speeches that could only harmonize the community relations with its neighbors.

Reached by phone, Alila reiterated that he was in the race for the Homa-Bay and not anybody’s puppet.

Ends